The National tribune., 1887-09-08
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
TIE cnNGRrss OF DOCTORS.

THE CONGRESS OF DOCTORS.
Washington is full of doctors, and doctors
wives and doctors daughters. The Inter
national Medical Congress" is in session, a1d
there are about 1000 physicians in attendance,
representing every country in the civilized
world. Most of them are prominent in their
profession. They have met TO exchange views
and discuss the various branches of the healing
art The uptown hotels arc thrOnged with
doctors and most Of the principal halls are en-
gagged by the 81 medical departments or sec
tions of the association. These sections COM
prise general medicine. general surgery, milf
tary aud naval surgery and medicine, obstetrics,
gynecology, therapeutics and materia-medica,
anatomy, physiology, pathology, diseases of
children, ophthalmology, GEOLOGY, laryngOlogy,
dermatology, public hygiene, medical climat-
ology and psychological medicine and nervous
diseases and dental and oral surgery. Each of
these sections meets in a separate hall, so that
besides the great hall Of the Pension Office,
which will be occupied for the reception meet
ing and the meeting en- maSse, all the available
assembling places in the city are occupied. At
several of these halls fine exhibitions in the
line OF medical science are arranged. One at
the Light Infantry Armory is most effective
display Of drugs, medicines, etc, making the
armory for the while palatial pharmacy.
The Congress was opened by the President at
noon on Monday at Albaugh's Opera House,
and Hon. Thomas F. Bayard, Secretary Of
State, delivered the address Of welcome. The
following officers were elected: President,
Nathan Davis NJ. d., LID, Of Chicago Vice
Presidents from all the countries represented
in the Congress; Sec, DR. J. II. Hamilton,
Surgeon General u. S. Marine Hospitals; As
sociate Secretaries, DIR. w. B. Atkinson, of
Philadelphia, and DIR. G. b. Harrison, Of Wash
ington; Treas, Dr. L. S. f. Arnold, of New
port, u. S. Marine Service. Addresses Of well
come and replies followed. The afternoon was
devoted TO the 2l sections under their Presi-
dents. and at night an international meeting
and reception took place at the hall of the Pen
sion Office, one of the largest halls in the world.
1t is 3l6 BY ll6 feet. It's columns, l25 feet
high, support a roof which is colored to initiate
the clear blue of the sky. A fountain springs
up in the middle. and few halls in the world
are better for such an occasion. The Hall OF
Justice at Padua, Italy. is the only one larger
in all dimensions Westminster Hall is 290
feet long, but only 6s feet broad, and some OF
its length is taken of by rooms.
The doctors look very learned and 6istin-
guisbed, and it il expected that great results
will follow the Congress in improved methods
for curing the ills to which flesh is heir. There
Is but one female physician in attendance, DIR.
Fanny Dickinson, of Chicago, who viii be the
first woman doctor ever admitted as a delegate
CLAIMS FOR LONGEVITY PAY.
Capt. George Mitchell, of the I'd Art. has
filed claim for longevity, which. if allowed,
will Involve the Government 20 the extent OF
at least million dollars. Capt. Mitchell claims
that he should be credited with service as a
volunteer officer Of the army in computing his
longevity pay. He entered the service ia the
57th n. Y. and was commissioned First Lieu
tenant in November, 1862. He served through
the war, and in 1866 was commissioned Second
Lieutenant in the 18th u. S. Inf Ia 1870 he
was transferred 90 the I'd Art. The Supreme
Court has decided ia the Morton case that sery-
ice at the Military and Naval Academies is
service in the army or navy, and should. there
| fore, be reckoned in computing longevity.
I Under this ruling a large amount Of money has
been paid out. 1t is held by lawyers generally
that if the years spent at the academies as
students Is actual service then the volunteer
service in time Of war should certainly be taken
into consideration in the computing Of longey-
titles. 1t is the general opinion that he will
/ secure Its allowance. AS soon as it is allowed
there will without doubt. be a similar claim
filed by some navy officer. Another class Of
/ longevity claims is soon TO come before the
Court Of Claims. There are not few officers
in the army who entered the service as enlisted
men. They naturally consider that under the
terms Of the law upon which the decision in
the Morton ease was based. they are morV
clearly entitled TO credit for service as enlisted
men than the West Point graduates are FOL
service as students. Their service was in th,
field, and is considered 10 be more clearly
actual service than that Of the cadets.
GEN. BLACKS ILLNESS
Gen Black has so far recovered that he /
now able 10 sit up in chair, and employ him
self during the greater part Of the day will
official work. isailment isinflammatory rheu
matism, which at one time took quite a seriOu
form. Such disease is always particular,
dangerous TO man whose vitality has beef
Slapped as Gen. Blacks has by years Of acut.
suffering from terrible and exhausting wounds
The attack was precipitated by the suddei
change OF temperature during a visit 10 tn
Encampment az Wiers, N. ii. The heat il
Washington during the Summer Just ended wa
unusually intense aud long-continued. Gen
Black left here during the warmest period an,
went 10 Wiers, where the weather was, by con
tTast, quite cool While out driving a heay-
shower came up. which wet biscIothing through
and produced a chill. There was no Ere in tn
Summer residence to which he was going. tn
chill got q firm bold. and he was prostratet
with alarming symptoms. Infammatory rheu
matism manifested ITSELF but he was able to b
taken home, where he soon rallied, and hi
convalesoence has been fairly rapid.
Az ARMY ELoPEMENT
The War Department has received an officia
confirmation Of the statement recently pub
lisbed that Lieut.. L. J. A. Darr, one Of IN,
instructors at the Military Academy, had dis
appeared with the wife Of his brother professor
LieBt John r. Totten. The story, when frs
published, was not believed at army headquar
tiers. Both officers were well known here ant
esteemed by all who had come in contact will
them. Mrs. Totten was thought TO be beyonc
reproach. When Lieut.. TOtten came out in
published card denying the truth Of the charge
made against his unfortunate wife every ont
sympathized with him, and condemned thosi
who, as IL appeared, were seeking TO destroy hi
peace Of mind. A letter was received from th,
father Of Lieut. barr at the War Department ,
few days ago, asking that the acceptance Of nj
sons resignation be revoked, upon the grount
that he was temporarily deranged. The DE
partment informed the father that his reqnes
could not be granted, as the parties were out o
the country. Information comes TO the Depart
ment from West Point 10 the effect that Lieut.
Darr aud Mrs. Totten have gone 10 Soutl
America.
OUR LAwMAKERs
Senator J. T. Jones's luck has taken a we'll
sustained upward turn and be has been max
ing great deal of money in the last few years
IL will be remembered that when he irst cam
10 the Senate from Nevada lac was YER
wealtby-was one OF the "Silver Kings"-
but an adverse current set in, which brough
him 70 the verge OF bankruptcy. The curren
began 70 set the other way about three year
ago. and IL looks as IL he will soon be better OF
than he ever was All his mines, and especi
/ sllv those Ia Alaska very prnlncffya m,